Defra figures confirm big drop in UK pork production in January

UK production of pigmeat in January was 7% down on January 2022 due to a combination of lower slaughter numbers and lower carcase weights. The latest production figures released from Defra show the UK produced 79,400 tonnes of pig meat in January, down 500 tonnes from December 2022, and 6,100 tonnes below volumes seen at the same time last year. The production of pig meat in January 2023 is the lowest monthly figure since January 2021, sitting 4% (-3,400 tonnes) behind the 5-year average for the month.The decline in production has been driven by reduced slaughterings, amid clear signs of tighter supplies and shortages of pigs. The clean pig kill for January stood at 863,700 head, down 21,900 head from December 2022 and 9,100 head behind numbers seen this time last year. Following the same pattern as production volumes, this is the lowest monthly number of clean pigs slaughtered since January 2021. However, the slaughter figures do not suggest as big a dip in pig beings processed ...